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Asia Cup - 2004
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Asia Cup - 2004
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Youhana out to prove he’s
not Irfan Pathan’s bunny
COLOMBO: When Pakistan and India play here on Sunday (today) in the
Asia Cup, Pakistan’s vice-captain and premier batsman Yousuf Youhana
will have a personal point to prove to the cricket world; that he is
not the "bunny" of Irfan Khan Pathan.
When the two sides played in Pakistan just two months ago, Youhana
had to go through the ignominy of becoming known as Pathan’s bunny,
the word used in cricket to describe a batsman who is being troubled
and dismissed consistently by the same bowler.
In Pakistan, Youhana’s one-day series against India was ruined by
the young teenaged left-arm pacer who had him in wraps with his in
swing dismissing him for scores of just 1, 9 and 2 in the last three
games while in the Test series that followed Pathan again snared him
twice in five innings.
The 28-year-old Youhana, who is now Pakistan’s most prolific batsman
after captain Inzamam-ul-Haq with 51 Test and 167 one-day
appearances and over 9,000 runs in both forms of the game, however
is very keen to clear the impression that he is Pathan’s bunny.
"Yes he has troubled me with his inswing, it is very deceptive. But
so would any bowler with a similar action and delivery. But I have
also got runs against him. I would not like anyone to think I will
fail every time I go out to bat against him," is what Youhana has to
say.
And most of the Pakistani supporters round the globe would like him
to prove this on Sunday and all the signs are that Youhana has been
making special preparations for Pathan this time around.
The experienced campaigner who has not had a very happy Asia Cup
tournament here has spent a lot of time analysing Pathan’s bowling
with coach Bob Woolmer and has also been having a lot of practice in
the nets.
"Right now what is important is that we win this match. If I score a
century and we still lose it will not be good enough," he said.
But it is unlikely Pakistan will lose if Youhana finally finds some
of the silken touch for which he has highly regarded in the cricket.
And even the modest Irfan Pathan admits: "I would not say he is my
bunny. It’s nothing like that. He is a quality player and, yes, I
have got him out a few times but in cricket nothing can be
predicted. It all depends on the day."
The youngster enjoyed immense success in Pakistan taking a total of
20 wickets and he also believes Sunday’s match is another huge
opportunity for him to do well.
"When you are successful against Pakistan, people look up to you
that much more. It is such a huge game. We have had successes
against them and we want to maintain that. As far as I am concerned,
I will just look to get my basics right."
Youhana is also thinking on similar lines and finding the form that
saw him get scores of 80, 100 not out, 90 not out and 25 in the last
Asia Cup that was won by Pakistan in Dhaka in June, 2000.
So more than Shoaib Akhtar versus Sachin Tendulkar, come Sunday and
it will be the Pathan versus Youhana encounter that will capture the
imagination of millions around the globe.
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